The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 11, 1996
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A toner bottle (38) has projections (38c, 38c') on its bottom surface. The projections (38c, 38c') extend in the axial direction but are spaced away from the central-axis line of the toner bottle (38). The projections (38c, 38c') are engaged with convex portions (62b, 62b') formed in a joint (62) of a drive portion (60). When the drive portion (60) starts rotating, the torque is transferred to the toner bottle (38) via the projections (38c, 38c') and the convex portions (62b, 62b'). Since the torque is transferred from the bottom side of the toner bottle (38), the toner bottle (38) can be attached to or detached from a body of an image forming apparatus in a direction of the central-axis line. Toner discharged from the toner bottle (38) is introduced into a process cartridge through an opening portion (48) of a toner hopper portion (40) and a toner introducing cover (52). A shutter member (88) is disposed in the toner introducing cover (52). The shutter member (88) consists of a flexible elastic member (90) and a holding member (92) for holding the elastic member (90). The shutter member (88) intersects with the opening plane of a toner supplying port. Guiding portions for bending and guiding the elastic member (90) along the toner supplying port are also disposed in the toner introducing cover (52).